The Welsh Government, through Health and Care Research Wales, will prioritise research into antimicrobial resistance.

Public Health Wales will improve the data surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and develop an alerts system for real-time identification of resistant organisms.

Antibiotic resistance – when bacteria adapt so antibiotics fail – is happening right across the world. Without urgent action we are heading for a post-antibiotic era...

We know that many common and life-threatening infections, such as E.coli bacteraemia – the commonest organism found in blood tests in the UK - are becoming difficult or even impossible to treat. We have to act now.

The effectiveness of procedures such as organ transplantation or chemotherapy would be at considerable risk without effective antibiotics being available. The threat is clear – antimicrobial resistance is recognised by the UK Government’s Civil Emergency Risk Register.

First Minister Carwyn Jones has told AMs that the Welsh Government will get almost no more money as a result of the UK Government's announcement of extra funding for the English NHS. Increases in England lead to matching percentage increases for Wales under the Barnett Formula but Mr Jones said they'd be cancelled out by cuts in other parts of the English health budget. The First Minister dismissed as naïve a call from the Conservative leader for any extra money to be given to the Welsh NHS.

Today the Chancellor has announced £3.8 billion worth of extra money for the English NHS in the next financial year.
There will be a Barnett consequential for that uplift. Will you commit to ringfencing that money in the next budget round so that it is put into the Welsh NHS?

– Conservative Leader Andrew RT Davies AM

Is he saying to us today that there will be a full consequential to Wales as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review? Because our understanding is entirely different.
What was being trailed on the radio this morning is that there will be cuts in public health and medical education and that money will be transferred to the NHS budget. There will be no consequential if that happens.
So if he thinks there will be a consequential in those circumstances, I'm afraid his naïvety overtakes his perception.

People were asked to name the most important issues facing the country Credit: ITV Cymru Wales

Welsh voters seem in no doubt that health the is the most important political issue at the moment, according to a YouGov poll for ITV Cymru Wales. Concerns about the NHS are likely to have a big impact on how people vote in the Westminster election, although it's the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

People were asked to name the most important issues facing the country. Here's their top four:

Health 52%

Immigration & Asylum 49%

The Economy 46%

Welfare benefits 27%

Next, they were asked what were the most important issues facing them and their families, producing a rather different top four concerns:

Health 47%

The Economy 39%

Pensions 27%

Welfare benefits 20%

Immigration came sixth on 18%, just behind tax on 19%. In general, supporters of all parties broadly agreed about the issues facing the country and themselves. The notable exception was UKIP supporters. 85% of them listed immigration as an issue for the country, more than twice as many as picked any other issue.

50% of UKIP voters also saw immigration as an issue for themselves and their families, again making it their main concern.

People could pick up to three issues in response to each question.

Poll for ITV Cymru Wales and the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said that he'd "plead" with the Welsh Government to increase its spending on the NHS. He was answering a question from the Plaid Cymru MP for Arfon, Hywel Williams.

My constituent Mr Irfon Williams of Bangor has been refused the drug treatment for his cancer. He has moved to England and I understand he will begin treatment next Wednesday. What would the Prime Minister say to Mr Williams and others who have had to fight on a case-by-case basis for the treatment prescribed? Mr Williams himself is a senior health care professional.

– Hywel Willams MP

What I would say to Mr Williams is, first, that he has my sympathy and understanding for the condition that he has. I hope he will get the treatment he needs in England. The problem is that in Wales the Labour party has made the wrong decision and cut NHS spending.

It did not have to make that decision, because of course the increase in NHS spending in England triggers Barnett money being available in Wales, so even at this late stage I would plead with the Labour Government in Wales: make the right decision on health, increase the spending, increase the cancer treatments, and give people the treatment they deserve.

– Prime Minister David Cameron MP

Irfon Willams, who's a mental health service manager in Bangor, will be treated for bowel cancer in Liverpool with the drug Cetuximab, after staying with relatives in Ellesmere Port in order to qualify for the treatment. He's raised over £66,000 to support cancer patients and staff at Ysbyty Gwynedd, where he was previously treated.

A rare disease is defined as a life-threatening or chronically debilitating disease, which affects five people or less per 10,000. Credit: Angelika Warmuth/DPA/PAImages

It sets out the Welsh Government’s expectations of the NHS in Wales to treat rare diseases for people of all ages.

A rare disease is defined as a life-threatening or chronically debilitating disease, which affects five people or less per 10,000. They can range from life-limiting illnesses to manageable conditions, which do not affect daily living. There are around 150,000 people affected by such diseases in Wales.

Examples include Sickle Cell, which is a disease arising out of genetic problems, and Spina Bifida - a disease arising out of deficiencies or exposures to substances during pregnancy.

"This is the first time Wales has developed a plan to improve the experiences of people living with rare diseases and it brings together a number of recommendations designed to improve coordination of care and lead to better outcomes for people.

To this end, we are keen to see real partnership across services, agencies, and above all between individuals living with rare diseases, their carers, patient organisations and the NHS.

Patients with these conditions can suffer greatly and we are determined to provide the best care we can for them. I expect this plan to make a real difference."

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Only 42.6% of ambulances in Wales got to the most life threatening calls within 8 mins according to Welsh Government figures published today. The target is for 65% of them do to so. The figures for November were 51%.

Credit: PA

In certain parts of Wales the response figures were even worse:

Torfaen - 28.3%

Rhondda Cynon Taff - 29.9%

Half of Welsh local authorities performed below the 42.6% average figure. The best performing area, Conwy was still below the national target of 65%.

The chief executive of the service Tracy Myhill says "We completely appreciate that this presents an unacceptable level of service delivery across the whole health and social care system."

The Welsh Conservatives called the figures "the worst on record".

More evidence of a bleak mid-winter for the Welsh NHS, these are truly horrific figures – the worst on record – which must set alarm bells ringing for Labour Ministers who have inflicted record-breaking cuts on the Welsh NHS.

Just over half the people questioned in an ITV Cymru Wales poll are confident that the Welsh NHS will give them a high standard of healthcare when they need it. The gap between those who are confident and those who are not is now just 10%

Credit: YouGov/ITV/Cardiff University Jan 19-21, Sample: 1,036

The poll result suggests that a year of bad headlines has shaken confidence in the service. A similar poll in October 2013 found 72% confidence in the Welsh NHS. Satisfaction with the treatment people have actually received remains high, at 72%, though that's down from 82% in the previous poll.

Credit: YouGov/ITV/Cardiff University Jan 19-21, Sample: 1,036

The Welsh Health Minister has welcomed the overall result as a sign of continuing support for the NHS and the way that it's run in Wales.

This poll shows once again how people across Wales value and respect the approach we have taken in respect of the NHS, which does a remarkable job in providing excellent standards of care, free at the point of need for all people in Wales. Research continually shows people across Wales have confidence in their NHS.

– Health Minister Mark Drakeford AM

The latest poll was also conducted in England, where there were higher levels of confidence in the NHS and satisfaction with the treatment that people had received.